1963 Morris Traveller

‘NSX 518A’ is a right-hand-drive, home-market, De-Luxe Morris Minor Traveller that’s still finished in its original colour of Old English White. How do we know all this? Why, from the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate that comes with it!

Fresh from a two-year professional restoration that our vendor tells us was "subject of a £38,000 restoration with just 150 shakedown miles since it was completed earlier this year", the work was meticulous and included a bare-metal respray followed by reassembly with new and reconditioned mechanical components, with the icing on the cake being a brand-new interior.

And no, doing it to this standard isn’t cheap; there are said to be invoices on file for more than £25,000 in parts alone, and these account for the bulk of the 125-page history file we’ve uploaded…

While this makes little financial sense, the seller is more used to restoring Jaguar E Types and the like, and simply couldn’t bring himself to do anything less than his best, even though he knew he’d be punished when the time came to sell it.

Newly registered with the DVLA, this delightful Morris Minor Traveller is on the button and ready to thrill and delight its new owner.  
 

Woodies, “the world No.1 manufacturer and supplier of Morris Traveller woodwork” supplied more than £2,000-worth of parts for it, and given the wooden frame is the backbone of the car’s bodywork, that can only be a good thing.

There are also a huge quantity of invoices on file for body panels and repair sections too; this was not a bodge-it-and-scarper restoration if the quality and quantity of the parts that were used is any guide.

Further proof of the restorer’s meticulous nature comes by way of the panel alignment, which is very good and leads to some very satisfying shutlines, including the rear doors, whose wooden frames butt up very nicely.

The Old English White paintwork is uncommonly good too, with no obvious runs, orange peel, or other flaws – but then given the cars he works on usually, this fastidious approach isn’t a surprise.

Nor is the fact he decided to bite the bullet and fit a full set of brand new steel wheels and 155R14 tyres rather than faff about refurbishing the old ones. The tyres are Toyo 310s too, so no 'el cheapo' ditch finders here, and given they’ve only covered around 150 miles in all, they’re still like new.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

The wheels are finished off with a set of rather lovely chrome hubcaps, and these, like the rest of the brightwork, are excellent.

A glass sunroof is fitted.

If we are being pernickety, the rear door hinge bolts been left a bit long, the fuel filler neck has come slightly adrift, and there’s a small scratch on the offside scuttle between the bonnet hinge and the wiper arm. 
 

The interior is pretty much all new, which means this is likely to be a very brief section, which is yet more good news for the Minor’s next owner.

And it really is flawless. The seats, for example, are firm and taut with nary a mark on them. Beautifully trimmed and installed on nicely painted frames, they’re also fitted with a pair of Securon three-point static seatbelts.

Those in the back get to enjoy a full-width bench seat plus padded armrests on the side trim. There’s plenty of legroom too, which’ll come as a welcome surprise to anyone who is used to being cramped in the back of a modern car with the same footprint.  

The door cards are new too, as are the carpets and, we think, the headlining.

The dashboard is both minimal and a model of clarity, a combination that’s rarer than you might think. It too is as good as new, and the odometer has been left with the same reading it had when the seller bought the Morris as a project back in 2023, which is a nice touch.

A supplementary coolant temperature gauge has been fitted by the driver’s right knee, which seems like a sensible upgrade.

The steering wheel is both vast and slim, which is exactly what you want on a classic car like this, and the indicator stalk has a flashing green end to it, which is another lovely touch.

The boot is an absolute delight. Trimmed in matching green carpet, metal runners allow your luggage to slide in without fear of marking the material underneath.

Of course, being a Traveller there’s a huge amount of space – and if even that isn’t enough, the rear seats fold down to reveal a cavernous space which is almost large enough for you to be able to start a sideline in transporting coffins.

The full-size spare wheel lives under the false floor, which leaves a  completely unencumbered area and keeps your possessions clean.

Flaws are few. There is a crack in the paintwork on the top of the driver’s door, and the nearside front quarterlight has clearly been sourced from a different car as it has a different registration number etched on it.
 

The engine was treated to almost £3,000-worth of machining by Precision Engineering of Dundee, wok that included reboring and honing the block, regrinding the crankshaft, fitting new valve guides and seats, recutting those seats, lapping in the valves, surfacing the cylinder head, and repairing a damaged head stud.

The gearbox and rear axle were also overhauled, and the whole lot was put back together with new or reconditioned suspension, steering, and brake components as needed.

It’s got an alternator now too, in lieu of the dynamo that would have struggled to keep the battery charged for more than half a century. The vehicle has also been fitted with a new wiring loom.

As you’d expect given the scope and scale of the investment, the engine fires up readily, idles well, and revs beautifully. It might not be the most potent engine in the world but there’s horsepower aplenty for its intended role, and we suspect most people will also be wowed by how smooth it is.

Cosmetically, the engine bay is a delight. We’re sure the combination of a green rocker cover, the green labels of the Lucas battery and coil, and the green screenwash is a coincidence, but if not then bravo!

In fact, peering more closely, it may not be a coincidence at all because the attention to detail is stunning with such delights as arrow-straight copper pipes, a braided wiring loom, and more.

In fact, the only fault we can find is a small paint run on the air filter housing, which says it all really.

The underside is just as good, with plenty of new parts and body-colour paint as the final finish, and it’s worth crawling under there, if only to admire the colour-coordinated engine sump.

Receipts total £38,000 for restoration, which was completed earlier this year. Just 150 shakedown miles have been completed since then.
 

Despite not needing one, it’s great to see that the Traveller has an MoT. Better still, it doesn’t expire until July 2026 and it was issued with no advisories. You can’t ask for more than that, can you?

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and apart from the 120-odd pages of invoices, the restoration was lovingly documented, and this is stored on a USB drive. 
 

This is effectively a brand-new example of the car many of us remember our grandparents taking us out in when we were children.

In fact, it’s probably better now than it ever was when it was new – and is almost certainly likely to prove to be more reliable.

They’ve retained all of its considerable charm though and, with care, it’ll last for another 60 years with the bonus that any half-competent DIYer will be able to service and maintain it themselves.

And all this could be yours for between £15,000 and £20,000, which doesn’t feel like a lot for the metalwork and memories you’ll be enjoying for so many years to come. 

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.